Tyre plug & changing your own tyres.

thedoc46

thedoc46

thedoc46

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So i picked up a nail in my rear tyre last week. MT-09 Brand new bike in Nov on a brand new Dunlop Sportmax. :mad:

I bought a plug kit, one that you can plug from the outside. Mushroom type.

I guess I'm just going to plug it for now. Not sure I'll keep it plugged for too long. I don't know, maybe I'll get lazy after it being plugged for a few weeks, and think well why not just live with it.

So anyway, has anyone got any horror stories that they'd like to share about plugs failing?

This whole ****** nail, is prompting me to perhaps buy my own tyre changing equipment. I'm going to need to change my tires on my other bike anyways ! So i have three tyres to change out. Paying someone else is halfway towards owning my own equipment.. Bead breaker, tyre irons, and a manual balancer. I already have a compressor.

My only concern is i'll be a rookie, and well, I'm scared !!!!! to gouge my new rims. Who here changes their own tyres ?
 
I've done a few, skinny rims are a pain.

You'll need to change a fair few of your own tyre before you break even.

Bead breaker, levers, valves, weights, rim protectors, tyre soap, compressor, valve puller etc.

I don't bother with bead breaker or compressor though, run over the edge of the tyre to break the bead, a can of hairspray and match to seat the new tyre :D

Never fitted a repair plug, do have one in my back tyre though, no problems and it's done plenty of road miles and a track day too.
 
My dad has all the tools at his place, front wheels are pretty easy, but we found the 190 on my gsxr was a nightmare :D
 
Foghorn Leghorn said:
I've done a few, skinny rims are a pain.

You'll need to change a fair few of your own tyre before you break even.

Bead breaker, levers, valves, weights, rim protectors, tyre soap, compressor, valve puller etc.
Click to expand...

I always change my own tyres, and you don't actually need a lot of that stuff. Obviously you need levers, but a length of garden hose split lengthways does a great job of protecting the rim and I use my standard workshop vice as a bead breaker. A valve tool costs about a quid, and I bought a static balancing tool that fits a paddock stand for about £20.

However, a compressor is pretty essential and is a fairly large expense.
 
Dogbreath said:
I always change my own tyres, and you don't actually need a lot of that stuff. Obviously you need levers, but a length of garden hose split lengthways does a great job of protecting the rim and I use my standard workshop vice as a bead breaker. A valve tool costs about a quid, and I bought a static balancing tool that fits a paddock stand for about £20.

However, a compressor is pretty essential and is a fairly large expense.
Click to expand...

Try the hairspray/deodorant method, it's works a treat.
 
thedoc46 said:
So i picked up a nail in my rear tyre last week. MT-09 Brand new bike in Nov on a brand new Dunlop Sportmax. :mad:

I bought a plug kit, one that you can plug from the outside. Mushroom type.

I guess I'm just going to plug it for now. Not sure I'll keep it plugged for too long. I don't know, maybe I'll get lazy after it being plugged for a few weeks, and think well why not just live with it.

So anyway, has anyone got any horror stories that they'd like to share about plugs failing?

This whole ****** nail, is prompting me to perhaps buy my own tyre changing equipment. I'm going to need to change my tires on my other bike anyways ! So i have three tyres to change out. Paying someone else is halfway towards owning my own equipment.. Bead breaker, tyre irons, and a manual balancer. I already have a compressor.

My only concern is i'll be a rookie, and well, I'm scared !!!!! to gouge my new rims. Who here changes their own tyres ?
Click to expand...

I don't think it's worth it.

You can get the tyre changed and balanced professionally for what, £15-20? Maybe cheaper if you know someone or find somewhere else (think one of my old colleagues said he got his done for £10).

£15-20 to save a load of time, be lazy, have it done professionally and only every few years is fine.

But if you're confident it's actually going to save you money and you're willing to get the equipment and do it yourself then why not!

Also, I wouldn't trust a plug. I picked up a bolt in my old Road pilots on my Hornet and just went for a new tyre. My Road Pilot moto 2s were old and I wanted moto 3s anyway, so a bit different in my case, but I still wouldn't trust a plug at high speeds.
 
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Ah, where's the fun in taking it to someone ? lol I've just gone ahead and ordered a used by clean rear R6 99-02 rim, to practice on. I have some new tires on route to me, and well i can confirm that the plug was crap. Unless you're doing the plug from the inside, then its just a tide you over. As i am now finding out, after wasting $45 on the stop 'n go mushroom kit.

Dunlop were pretty decent and are sending me a front FOC, since my bike tyre is so new that its not even available over here in the USA to buy... So I'm getting a rear Sportmax qualifier, and Dunlop are sending the front for free.

So i now have two tyres, plus my other bike is going to need some new tyres soon...

I already have the compressor, i just need the bead breaker and irons, and some patience to learn.....
 
thedoc46 said:
Ah, where's the fun in taking it to someone ? .
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True, I do everything myself on my bike, just not the tyres. Mainly because I don't have the tools and only replaced tyres every so often, so really not a big cost to pay someone. Plus I know it'd just annoy me trying to get old off and new on! I suppose I contradict myself considering I'm about to buy a chain breaker/riveter with my chain & sprocket so I can do that myself! Saying that, chain/sprocket replacement can be expensive in labour so I take that back :p

A practice wheel is a v good idea. See, that's something I wouldn't think about. I'd just do it on my bike thinking it'd be fine, then mess up my rim!
 
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Craig321 said:
True, I do everything myself on my bike, just not the tyres. Mainly because I don't have the tools and only replaced tyres every so often, so really not a big cost to pay someone. Plus I know it'd just annoy me trying to get old off and new on! I suppose I contradict myself considering I'm about to buy a chain breaker/riveter with my chain & sprocket so I can do that myself! Saying that, chain/sprocket replacement can be expensive in labour so I take that back :p

A practice wheel is a v good idea. See, that's something I wouldn't think about. I'd just do it on my bike thinking it'd be fine, then mess up my rim!
Click to expand...

Yeah, if i messed up my new shiny rim, i'd be a tearful mess !! lol

Besides once i've got the hang of it, i can probably sell the R6 rim on fleabay, for more of less the same price i paid for it... ;) AS LONG as i don't gouge it up too badly.. In which case, I'll have all the gear but no idea ! lol
 
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